The Flamma Black Dist is a mini distortion pedal, sold as the FC19, from the Chinese builder Flamma, whose pedals have been appreciated for their tone and looks. Delicious Audio called it "one of the most affordable (mini) distortion pedals on the market" when it appeared in late 20221.
A RAT-style distortion in a mini pedal
The Black Dist is built around a RAT-style circuit, the design behind the well-known Pro Co RAT distortion. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described its range plainly: "The Black Dist can go from classic dark RAT tone to a more punchy version of it when the Turbo voice is engaged." In Vintage mode the pedal delivers what he called "warm, sweet, vintage distortion"1.
The pedal's form factor is the other half of the story. Flamma's marketing, quoted by Delicious Audio, says "The FC19 Distortion pedal brings fire and brimstone to your pedalboard in the smallest package yet." It sits in the same family as the earlier Flamma Dist FC06 mini distortion1.
Controls
The control layout is deliberately simple, with one large knob and smaller ones around it1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distortion (large knob) | Adjusts the gain level, sized large so it is easy to adjust1 |
| Mini knobs | Fine tweaking of volume levels and tone color1 |
| Toggle switch | Selects between the Vintage and Turbo voices1 |
Vintage and Turbo voices
The two voices are selected by a toggle switch. Vintage is the classic dark RAT tone; Turbo is a more punchy version of the same character. As Delicious Audio put it, "When things need to get extra nasty, pop the toggle switch from Vintage to Turbo"1.
The pedal is true bypass, which Delicious Audio says "ensures a noise-free environment" when it is switched out, so it will not color your clean signal between solos1.
Videos
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Ray's Music
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Questions
Is the Flamma Black Dist true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes the Black Dist as having a true bypass circuit, which they say ensures a noise-free environment when the pedal is off, until you engage the distortion.
What circuit is the Flamma Black Dist based on?
Delicious Audio describes the Black Dist as a RAT-style design. In Vintage mode it delivers what the reviewer calls the classic dark RAT tone, and the Turbo voice offers a more punchy version of that same character.
How much does the Flamma Black Dist cost?
Delicious Audio listed the Black Dist at just under $30 USD in December 2022, which made it one of the most affordable mini distortion pedals on the market at the time.
What does the Turbo switch do?
The toggle switch selects between two voices. Vintage gives the classic dark RAT-style tone, while Turbo gives a more punchy version of it. Delicious Audio suggests popping the toggle from Vintage to Turbo when things need to get extra nasty.
Sources (1)
- New Pedal: Flamma Black Dist, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-05
